Hello, I'm Jathan's mom Belinda Young, and new participant of the Take Steps Be Heard fundraising team JVACC!

Introduction

I will be participating in Take Steps for Crohn's & Colitis fundraising & walk event. My participation is in honor of my 9 year old son Jathan Kai Young, and many other children diagnosed and suffering with IBD (Inflammatory Bowel Disease-- Crohn's & Colitis), in effort to raise money to find a cure for this chronic illness. Children under the age of 18 are the fastest growing patient population and are often the most severely impacted by Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis. We do not know what causes these diseases and today there are no medical cures. With your help, that can change. With funds raised through Take Steps by participants, like YOU, we are one step closer to finding cures.

What is Take Steps Be Heard

Take Steps is CCFA's national evening walk and celebration and the nation's largest event dedicated to finding cures for digestive diseases. It is a casual 2-3 mile stroll to raise money for crucial research, bringing us closer to a future free from Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Over 1.4 million American adults and children are affected by these digestive diseases. While many suffer in silence, Take Steps brings together this community in a fun and energetic atmosphere, encouraging them to make noise and be heard.

Your donation will help support local patient programs, as well as important research projects. This cause is very important to me and I appreciate your help as we fight for a cure! In addition to donating, you can join me at the event. There will be food, music and kid's activities. The more money we raise, the closer we will be to making life more manageable for patients who live with these diseases every day.

Personal Story

My son Jathan was diagnosed in July 2012, just a few days before his 9th birthday. Like a lot of people, I did not have a clue about IBD prior to my son's diagnoses. Naturally, I wanted to educate myself so I turned to the Internet. It was difficult to pull myself away at first, but the more I read, I became increasingly consumed with burden and worry so I decided to keep my faith, stay positive, and stop feeding my head with all the concerning information on the Internet. In my mind I refused to accept that my son would have to be on medication for the rest of his life, however; this illness doesn't just simply get better so I have to face it with confidence that I am able handle all that a child (and as a parent of a child) with a "chronic illness" endures. As a single mom already struggling to "do it all," I questioned myself with concern in my capabilities of adequately keeping up with all the additional (& very important) responsibilities (appointments in DC, daily medication consumption, ensuring proper nutrition, MRI's, blood work, stool samples...etc.), but with God, anything is possible (even a cure).

Although my plate feels overwhelmingly full--my son, and many others, suffer worse stress brought on by the symptoms of their chronic illness. I decided to get involved! My mission is to gain knowledge and support as a mother of a young child diagnosed, and to help fund CCFA's research, which is committed to discovering better treatment (leading to fewer flares, symptoms, remission) and of-course...a Cure --> a VICTORY for Sufferers of this Disease-- a disease that brings upon a life long journey of pain, worry, many inconveniences, stress, and health issues... unless a cure and better treatment is discovered and implemented.